Love it or hate it, the Green Bay Packers' unusual draft class led them to upgrades at key positions.
The Packers even admitted to going more wide receiver-heavy than they anticipated, following the Matthew Golden pick by selecting Savion Williams on the second day. Green Bay also leaned into strengthening the offensive line and pass rush, especially in the later rounds.
However, for the second year in a row, the Packers' lack of urgency at cornerback leaves fans puzzled.
A year ago, fans pounded the table for the Packers to address the position, with Iowa's Cooper DeJean at the top of the list. General manager Brian Gutekunst turned down opportunities and waited until the seventh round to select Kalen King. He did it again this year, with Tulane cornerback Micah Robinson, a seventh-round choice, becoming the only addition to the secondary.
There should be an even greater sense of urgency due to Jaire Alexander's uncertain future.
The Packers' lack of moves prompted many to wonder whether they had changed their mind and planned to keep the All-Pro — even NFL Network's Ian Rapoport raised the question.
But the latest update makes the Packers' inactivity all the more baffling.
Packers' stubborn stance on Jaire Alexander makes the draft decisions look even worse
According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Packers' plan remains the same.
"A source familiar with the dealings between the Packers and Alexander said the Packers still were in the market to trade him and were waiting to see if a team might have interest after the draft," Silverstein reports. "There is no plan for the Packers to bring Alexander back after deciding in February they were moving on and then shopping him to teams."
OK, then. It's not surprising and backs up Gutekunst's non-answer in his post-draft press conference.
"No real updates on that. He's on our roster now, and that's how we'll proceed. We'll figure it out as we go along," the Packers' GM said.
Translation: Jaire is gone.
So, what was the plan? The Packers have already lost a ton of cornerback depth, with Eric Stokes, Corey Ballentine, and Robert Rochell departing in free agency. If we assume Alexander will follow them, the Packers will be left with Nate Hobbs, Keisean Nixon, and Carrington Valentine as their starters, and then it gets concerning.
Is Kalen King, a second-year seventh-rounder with zero NFL snaps to his name, ready to play? Are the Packers trusting Robinson, a seventh-round rookie?
If not them, then who? Isaiah Dunn? Kamal Hadden?
The Packers have willingly left themselves painfully thin at cornerback once you get beyond the starters. One injury could derail the secondary.
Maybe Gutekunst will sign a free agent (good luck with that) or make a trade, but he is running out of options. They are rolling the dice at a premium position. Unless the Packers extend an olive branch to Alexander — and fast — their failure to improve may haunt them.